Google Allo Web Client for Desktop Users in the Works

Allo, that messaging service from Google that a few folks might use, may have itself a fancy web client for desktop users here pretty soon. According to a Googler by the name of Nick Fox, VP of communication products, the client is still in early development, but it is coming.

With Allo coming to desktop, one could be quite excited to have access to Google Assistant via their computer, plus the idea of multi-device access. Currently, whenever you sign into Allo on a new device, you are logged out on the previous device. With the building of a dedicated web client, those days could soon be over.

It should be noted that Allo was introduced at last year’s Google I/O, almost a year ago. Provided how much hype and stage time Google gave the app, it seems odd that it has taken this long to get a desktop client.

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This app stinks. NO options for anything. All it does is attach to phone.

The stickers and such are cool, with suggested text blurts.

BUT….this is an INFANT compared to messenger. Back to hangouts….Google, you suck (at message apps)

tardis 13

First things first: SMS

BoFiS

Meh, why don’t they just improve Hangouts, which already works across devices, on the web, on computers, in Pidgin or any other client you feel like, AND can do video and audio chats as well, oh, and it does SMS too!

Turb0wned

Still don’t see the SMS in the title so the app is still worthless.

Lunkman

I sorta get the appeal here…though am I the only one who has complete donkeys for friends? You know the ones- they send inappropriate messages that are best kept to my phone and not on my work laptop- which is the only time (when working) I bother actually using anything other than my phone.

Octotron

About time.

Peter Pugliese

This could be great… if they added SMS/MMS support. But then again, Google just updated their Voice app too. Why can’t we have ONE awesome app that does it all?

i give up complaining about no SMS support….but feel the need to still complain about no SMS support. thafuq

Daniel Thomas

Go with your gut feeling. COMPLAIN away!

Howard Stern ✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ

alright….i’m gonna do it! WTF SCROOGLE get on listening to people!! haha

sinfoman

Also, Google, thanks for bringing RCS support to Android Messages. Soooo…. what is Allo for, exactly? For F’s sake, pick a damn program and develop it. Jeez Louise, guys!

Howard Stern ✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ

BAAM!!! this. now, if they could only release this for AT&T haha.

sinfoman

RCS on Sprint really is pretty fantastic. I can share even moderate sized videos with my spouse at full resolution. I haven’t done exact tests, but so far at least 23MB UNCOMPRESSED. I’m sure there is a limit, but I’m not sure how big before it compresses. But pictures at full res and small videos too. That ALONE is worth using the google messenger, strike that, Android Messages.

Howard Stern ✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ

that makes me pretty jealous….I hate when someone gets a compressed video thats only like 3 seconds long. meanwhile, my wife sends huge ass files on her iphone pretty much all the time with no issues haha.

sinfoman

iMessage is (IMO) the ONLY reason to have an Apple product. Pretty much everything else I’ve seen, Android does bigger and better. But iMessage is LEGIT. Where are ya, Google? Make it happen!

sinfoman

My suspicion is this is pushback from the GSM companies. And/or Verizon that developed their own messaging app and don’t want to commit to RCS. So Google develops “ALLO” which circumvents the SMS process altogether. One of these is going to win, depending on how much carrier traction they can get for whichever one. Either way, Big G has a product (semi-) ready to roll. FRUSTRATING AS HELL for the users, but… you know, who cares about us?

Howard Stern ✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ

haha yeah….meanwhile, AT&T is just holding up updated, and becoming more mediocre by the day.

Will P

I would most definitely switch over when the desktop version comes out. I like the app more than hangouts

JSo

Desktop client is cool and all but I would like to use Allo on my tablet as well. Hopefully this is leading to that.

mcdonsco

Until this can do SMS I don’t care what else is going on with it. May as well not exist.

BobButtons

Agreed. I contact too many people who see no reason to switch from SMS so unless I can use Allo with everyone I’ll use it with no one.

mcdonsco

Yea, I keep hearing people say “SMS is dead” (or will be)…Umm, no, no it’s not and it never will be as long as it’s universally ties to the mobile number.

I’m in the same boat, in a given year I’m using SMS with hundreds or different people. So, any messaging app that can’t be used for SMS to me is completely pointless.

Hell, even Facebook messenger can now be used for SMS, dafuq Google?

JSo

The people who are saying SMS is dead are usually people outside of the U.S. For some reason, the U.S. is the main country still using SMS. And I guess everyone else has moved to web based messaging apps like facebook messenger or stuff like that. I’m in the U.S. though and pretty much use SMS with everyone I talk to.

mcdonsco

That’s what I see too, but even in those other countries SMS isn’t dead, it’s STILL ties to their mobile number and still very much alive. It’s just a lot of people have gravitated to WhatsApp, which I still don’t see why.

JSo

I’ve never even tried WhatsApp and don’t know anyone who uses it. I don’t see the point when SMS does the job fine. I think in the U.S., SMS is unlimited for most people so it’s not a big deal to use it. The only problem is when you try to share files. But there are other apps for that as well. RCS will be a good update to SMS once it’s more widely available.

mcdonsco

Well currently files are pretty easy to do. Just create a link to it in drive or whatever cloud storage you use and SMS that link. I use that all the time, works great.

JSo

That’s what I mean, there are other apps that make it easy to share files. But just basic messaging, SMS works fine. I see no point in using anything else unless you don’t have a phone plan or want to talk to people on devices other than your phone.

Daniel Thomas

you need to think globally, and developing nations. Not everyone offers unlimted SMS, and people are forced to use web based messaging services

JSo

I know this. That’s why everyone outside of the U.S. always bashes SMS.

Daniel Thomas

got it. Just when you say, “i see no point in using anything else…” i sounds like you are not aware that the majority of the world does not have access to SMS.

JSo

I’m just speaking for myself and kinda just for people in the U.S. I see no point for me to use anything else.

BobButtons

Not to mention, SMS works where web messaging does not. While I’m in the grocery store, for instance, I get extremely low service, if any. Somehow SMS still goes through but any other types of messages do not. This is important for contacting family members at home about what to pick up.

mcdonsco

Sorry, but I don’t agree. 99% of my business is with US folks, so the way things work globally (in this regard) have zero effect on me or my business…I don’t need to think globally. From the sound of it, seems like other countries need to follow our lead on this as it sounds like a complete mess everywhere else.

Daniel Thomas

Well that will never happen until there is zero government corruption, collusion with carriers, and access to modern technology. I wish it was different, but unfortunately that is not reality. Here’s to hoping.

mcdonsco

Ha! As if there is no government corruption here 🙂

Our government is PLENTY corrupt (remember by the people for the people? That hasn’t been the case here for decades).

Our politicians just run amuck with whatever special interests back door deals etc they want regardless of what their constituents want. Which is exactly why we just tossed a grenade into Washington (Trump).

He’s embarrassing as hell, but he seems to be upending everything in DC taking a wrecking ball to politics as usual.

Daniel Thomas

That’s a US argument. Developing nations use web based messaging as wifi is available everywhere, however no one has unlimited sms.

Droid4ever

Install it and it will tell who in your contacts has it. You’ll be surprised.

JSo

9 of my contacts use it. All of which I can just text with sms as well. Eh, it’s not for me.

I agree with you, but I find Allo is much faster and reliable that SMS. Just my 2 cents…

JSo

The problem is just getting people to use it.

Daniel Thomas

yep. I travel to Asia a lot and no one uses sms. Everyone uses Viber or Whatsapp. When people run out of a “load” they can always text on online platforms when connected to wifi. SMS uses their load too fast.

mcdonsco

Their load? Not familiar with that? Is the US the only country that has unlimited texts on most carriers/plans?

Daniel Thomas

It’s basically prepaid. When i’m in the Philippines you have to stop by a corner store, buy a 500 peso Load card, scratch off the card to reveal a code and enter it into your phone. That gives you 500 pesos worth of talk, text and data. Most places have wifi, so more people will use a web based messaging service vs sms which burns through their load.

mcdonsco

Yikes! Here’s to hoping we never see that in the US, no thank you!

Daniel Thomas

At one time in history, Philippines sent more SMS than any other country. But the corrupt carriers started to catch on and charge more for that. It is cheaper for people to use web-based over sms.

Ryan

It used to be that way. Im old, I remember when you paid for minutes AND texts but data was flat, it was an upside down/inside out world.

Genkidama

You can thank the carriers for that.

Vafan

Yeah I live in sweden, and I can’t remember the last time I used sms, even though I have unlimited sms from my carrier.

Daniel Thomas

agreed x1000. I want one app to do it all.

jamisles02

Desktop client is a great step. Now to just have it be able to send sms/mms from any device and have non-Allo people see it as if it was just a basic sms/mms, not a link to download Allo, then this could finally be the the android version of iMessenger.

Tim Welton

Now let’s get Allo to work on the iPad.

Seriously folks, that’s (one of the things) what I looooove about Hangouts. I can use it on my Pixel XL, my iPad Pro, via a webpage (hangouts.google.com) and as a Chrome extension — all seamlessly.

Hangouts is one of the best Google products ever. Allo — not so much so.

I’ll admit that I am still using it, though mainly just to communicate with immediate family members . It is incredibly fast and the predictive answers/ Google assistant integration are nice. I actually really like it.

MacNificent

Same here. And like you said I think it’s awesome!

Stabby McKnifington

Amazing. It would be cool if it was then integrated right into your gmail account as well. And then you could hangout online with all your friends.

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Orlando aka Pixel XL

Why isn’t allo integrated by Gmail?

Stabby McKnifington

Because it only integrates with a phone number. For…reasons…?

RazorSky

I’ve never meet an android phone owner who doesn’t have a gmail account. and 95% of apple users i know also have gmail. so again, why isn’t this just email or phone, either or?

Stabby McKnifington

No idea. It makes no sense to me.

Ryan

Because international. Its attempting to go after whatsapp, etc. Google isnt as big in India and whatnot. Issue being, why take resources away from applications that ARE useful in the west?

themacintoshnerd

i think they went with phone numbers because any one who has a phone can use it with out a making a google acount

Ryan

And imagine if it it also had an SMS client and supported group video chats. It would be like a one-stop-shop to hang out with your friends online….